Wednesday, May 24, 2023

A LONG STRETCH OF BAD DAYS by Mindy McGinnis

 

If you haven't discovered author Mindy McGinnis, run don't walk to the library, bookstore, or somewhere to get a copy of A LONG STRETCH OF BAD DAYS. You won't regret it, and you'll be looking for all of her other books when you finish.

Lydia Chass is anxiously awaiting her escape from the small town she has called home. She will graduate in the spring as valedictorian of her class of less than 70 students. She was sure of that fact until the day she was called to the guidance counselor's office. Unfortunately, a mistake was made, and she is short one history credit. If she doesn't earn that credit, she will not graduate. So much for all the college applications she's filled out for Ivy League schools. No way will she be accepted without that credit.

Another student has run afoul of the same mistake. Bristal Jamison was hoping to be the first Jamison to ever graduate from high school. She always thought her multiple discipline issues, fighting, and being on probation would be her downfall. Instead, it's this measly little history credit. She immediately considers who she will need to beat up to fix the problem.

Lydia and Bristal agree to team up to record some historical tidbits about their small town on Lydia's podcast On the Ground in Flyover Country. Lydia figures uploading some great episodes will also be seen by some of the colleges she's applied to and might help her get some offers. Also, there isn't a shortage of material in their small town, especially during what everyone calls "the long stretch of bad days" that involved a tornado, a flash flood, and the town's one and only murder. Let the research begin.

Author Mindy McGinnis knows how to grab a reader's attention and weave a tight, yet action-packed tale. Colorful background and quirky characters mixed with laugh out loud humor make this book a winner. If all that doesn't peak your interest, how about a cat named Uneven Steven.

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